Raonic had suffered a leg injury at the Delray Open last month and was sidelined since then. Joining the Canadian in the third round were Spanish fifth seed Rafa Nadal and Japanese second seed Kei Nishikori. 

Nadal advanced past Israeli Dudi Sela 6-3 6-4, taking the critical second-set break in the seventh game, while Nishikori cut down South African Kevin Anderson 6-4 6-3. 

Raonic breezed through the opening set and led 3-1 in the second before Serbia’s Troicki battled back. World No 38 Troicki drew level at 5-5 before Raonic’s pressure helped him secure the deciding break. 

Raonic will meet American Jared Donaldson, a 6-4 6-4 winner against 28th seed Mischa Zverev of Germany. A string of upsets unfolded later in the day with world number 13 Grigor Dimitrov eliminated in straight sets by Argentinean Guido Pella 6-3 7-6(4).

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